Bag Sealing Devices and Methods

ABSTRACT

A bag sealing device is designed to seal off an already-opened bag, such as a bag of chips. The device has a sheath and a rod. A slit is disposed along an axial direction of the sheath, and the rod is coupled to the sheath and disposed within it. A bag is folded over and inserted into the device such that it enters and exits the device at the slit and is wrapped around the rod. A reaction force from the rod and a reaction force from the sheath combine to cause the bag to be substantially pneumatically sealed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is bag sealing devices and methods.

BACKGROUND

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Any time a bag of chips is opened, the chips need to either be eaten in one sitting or the bag must be resealed to maintain freshness. Efforts have been made in the past to address this issue, but each attempt has fallen short for one reason or another.

In one example, bag clips have been produced that allow a person to roll up the end of the bag and clip it shut. While this helps to prevent the chips from becoming stale, it falls short in that air can still move in and out of the bag with relative ease. Chips or other foods sealed in this way will still become stale and inedible in a short amount of time.

Other efforts have been made to create a device that can easily and effectively seal or reseal bags. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,696 (Ha et al.) describes a bag sealing and resealing device. The device includes a rod and a sheath, where the sheath has a slot along its longitudinal length. When a person is finished with a bag that does not otherwise include a way to reseal it, the device of the Ha et al. patent reseals the bag by looping the bag around the rod and between the rod and the sheath. To make it easier for a person to slide the device of the Ha et al. patent onto a bag, the rod has a bent portion at one end. This design, however, fails to appreciate better alternatives that make it even easier to use such a device.

All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

Thus, there is still a need for improved bag sealing devices and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods of sealing bags. To seal a bag, the bag is wrapped around a rod that is housed within a sheath that has a slit along its length. When the bag is wrapped around the rod within the sheath, the rod and sheath cause the bag to be sealed off such that any items on the closed side of the bag will exposed to minimal air.

In preferred embodiments, the bag sealing device includes a rod and a sheath, where the rod is disposed within the sheath. The sheath has a slit running along its axial direction that provides a space for the bag to protrude from the device.

The rod couples to the sheath at one end such that the other end of the rod protrudes from the sheath. In preferred embodiments, the rod has a triangular cross-section, but in other embodiments the rod can have triangular cross-sections, circular cross-sections, polygonal cross-sections, a tear-drop cross-section, or even different cross sections for different portions of the rod. The end of the rod that protrudes from the sheath is preferably rounded slightly bulbous. Preferably, this end of the rod is also substantially axially aligned with the rod (i.e., the bulbous end of the rod is not at an angle relative to the body of the rod).

In preferred embodiments, the sheath has a rounded interior, but it can also have an interior cross-section to match the cross-section of the rod coupled to it. For example, if the rod has triangular cross sections along its length, then the sheath could also have triangular cross sections on its interior so as to provide a more reliable seal when the device is in use. In other embodiments, the end of the sheath having an opening for the rod to protrude from also extends away from the rod. This feature makes it easier to put the device onto a bag to seal the bag.

In addition, preferred methods include a sheath that is flared on an end to facilitate sliding a bag onto a rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a disassembled assembled bag sealing device having a straight sheath.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the bag sealing device having a straight sheath.

FIG. 3 a shows a cutaway view of a bag sealing device where the rod and sheath have circular cross sections.

FIG. 3 b shows a cutaway view of a bag sealing device where the rod and sheath have triangular cross sections.

FIG. 3 c shows a cutaway view of a bag sealing device where the rod and sheath have teardrop cross sections.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a disassembled assembled bag sealing device having a sheath where one end extends away from the rod.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the bag sealing device having a sheath that extends away from the rod at one end.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bag sealing device of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a bag sealing device 100 that has been disassembled. When assembled, the bag sealing device 100 can seal off a bag such that one end of a bag is prevented from being exposed to air. For example, if a person is eating a bag of chips, but that person is unable to finish the chips, normally the bag would be rolled up and stored. That storage method allows the chips to quickly become stale as they are exposed to air. Using the bag sealing device 100, the bag can be sectioned off such that the remaining chips are not exposed to air. To do this, a bag 106 is slid over the rod 104 such that the bag is between the rod 104 and the sheath 102.

On one end, the rod has features that facilitate coupling to the sheath. The bag sealing device 100 of FIG. 1 shows a rod 104 that, on one end, has a rounded end cap 108 that is coupled to a plug 112. The plug 112 is sized and dimensioned to fit within the sheath 102 (e.g., there is minimal space between the outer walls of the plug and the inner walls of the sheath). Preferably, the cross-section of the plug 112 is the same as the cross-section of the interior of the sheath 102 (albeit with slight different dimensions so that it can fit within the sheath). On the plug 112 are two protruding plugs 110 (only one is pictured—the other would be symmetrically located on the opposite side of the plug 112), and a key 124. Plugs 110 fit into plug holes 114 on a rod coupling portion 116 of the sheath 102, and the key 124 fits within the slit on the bottom of the sheath 102 to ensure proper orientation of the rod 104 when coupled to the sheath 102.

The rod 104 also has a bulbous portion 118 that makes it easier to slide a bag into the device 100. Preferably, the bulbous portion 118 is oriented such that it is substantially axially aligned with the body of the rod 104. Even more preferably, the top of the bulbous portion 118 is flush with the body of the rod 102 as shown in FIG. 1. By having the bulbous portion 118 axially aligned with the body of the rod 102, it becomes significantly easier to slide a bag into the device 100.

It was previously thought that having the end of the rod angled downward would make it easier to slide a bag onto a device; however, it has since been discovered that such a configuration actually makes it more difficult to use these devices. This is because a fold in a bag must be aligned with the body of the rod to slide the bag over the rod and into the sheath, and when the end of the rod has an angled bend the bag tends to match that angle when a person tries to slide the bag onto that device. A bulbous portion 118 that is axially aligned with the body of the rod 102 helps to ensure the fold of a bag 106 is lined up with the rod 102 so that the bag 106 more easily slide into the device 100.

The sheath 102 is sized and dimensioned to receive the rod 104. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as with other preferred embodiments, includes a sheath 102 that is sized such that the rod 104 fits within it with some room to spare. In this way, a bag 106 can fit between the rod 104 and the sheath 102, effectively creating a compartment of the bag that is not exposed to circulating air. The device 100 prevents air from passing from one side of the bag 106 to the other by cinching it. When a bag 106 is disposed between the rod 104 and the sheath 102, the rod 104 exerts an outward reaction pressure and the sheath 106 exerts a reaction inward pressure. These combined reaction pressures cause the bag 106 to deform to such an extent that a seal is effectively created.

Along the length of the sheath 102 are texture features 120, which provide improved grip for a user. Texture features 120 shown in FIG. 1 run radially around the circumference of the sheath 102, but different embodiments can have differently configured texture features. Since the purpose of the texture features is to provide improved grip to someone using a bag sealing device, as long as there is some sort of textured feature on the surface of the sheath the same goal can be accomplished (e.g., zig-zagging textures, bumps, cross-hatch textures, diagonal textures, or some other variation of those). The size, configuration, and placement of texture features 120 is purely a design choice, however the actual existence of these features improves the functioning of the bag sealing device 100. In addition to the texture features 120, the sheath 102 also has holes 126 and 128 on its side. Holes 126 and 128 are optional and exist, for example, for aesthetic reasons.

One end of the sheath 102 is a rod coupling portion 116, as mentioned briefly above, and on the other end is a bag insertion portion 122. The bag insertion portion 122 of FIG. 1 includes an opening that is the result of widening of a slit that runs the length of the sheath (best seen in FIG. 6, but present in every embodiment of the bag sealing device). The bag insertion portion 122 has a gradually widening opening that prevents bags from snagging on the device 100 during insertion.

The rod coupling portion 116, on the end of the rod 102 opposite the bag insertion portion 122, is configured to couple with the rod 102. As mentioned above, the rod has plugs 110 that are sized and dimensioned to fit into plug holes 114 that are formed into the rod coupling portion 116 of the rod 102. The end of the sheath 102 is preferably flush with the rounded end cap 108 of the rod 102 when the plugs are within the plug holes. When coupled together, the rod is contained mostly within the sheath 102, except for the rounded end cap 108 and the portion of the rod extending from the sheath 102.

FIG. 2 shows an assembled bag sealing device 200 that has a bag 204 inserted into it.

The bag sealing device 200 of FIG. 2 is identical to that of FIG. 1. The rod of the bag sealing device 200 is contained within sheath 202. The rod coupling portion 216 of the sheath 202 couples the rod and the sheath 202. On the rod coupling portion 216 are plug holes 214 that receive plugs 210 disposed on the plug of the rod (shown only by dotted lines as FIG. 2 is an assembled view). On the end of the plug is the rounded end cap 208 which preferably is adjacent to the end of the rod coupling portion 216 of the sheath 202.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c show cutaway views of various embodiments of the bag sealing device. FIG. 3 a, for example, shows a cutaway view of a device 300 a identical to the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rod 302 a in this embodiment has a circular cross-section, and the sheath 304 a has a matching circular cross-section. A bag 306 a is shown wrapped around the rod 302 a within the sheath 304 a and protruding from the slit 308 a. By wrapping around the rod 302 a and going into and coming back out of the slit 308 a, the bag is segregated into two portions where each portion is pneumatically segregated from the other. This can be caused by pressure from the sheath 304 a and rod 302 a against the bag 306 a as well as pressure caused by the slit 308 a cinching the bag 306 a. A reasonable difference between the outer diameter of the rod 302 a and the inner diameter of the sheath 304 a should remain so as to leave sufficient room to insert a bag 306 a. Some variation is tolerable to accommodate bags having different thicknesses. In addition to circular cross-sections, it is contemplated that the rod 302 a and 304 a could have elliptical cross-sections, so long as there is still sufficient room for the bag 306 a to fit between the rod 302 a and the sheath 304 a.

FIG. 3 b shows a rod 302 b and sheath 304 b having triangular cross-sections with a bag 306 b protruding from the slit 398 b. The rod 302 b is shown as having a sharp triangular form, while the sheath 304 b has a rounded triangular cross-section. Having a sharp triangular cross-section allows the rod 302 b to direct its reactionary forces to two points on the bag 306 b within the sheath 304 b. So, when a bag 306 b is inserted into the device 300 b, the triangular rod effectively cinches off the bag at two separate points. This effect increases the device's ability to pneumatically segregate one portion of the bag 306 b from another portion. While FIG. 3 b shows the sheath 304 b with a rounded triangular cross-section, such a configuration is not necessary for the device 300 b to properly function. The sheath 304 b could have a pointed triangular cross-section, or it could have an entirely different cross section, such as the circular cross-section of FIG. 3 a. The important aspect of the interplay between the rod 302 b and the sheath 304 b is that the two components interact to pneumatically segregate one portion of the bag 306 b from another.

FIG. 3 c shows a rod 302 c and sheath 304 c having triangular cross-sections with a bag 306 c protruding from the slit 308 c. The rod 302 c is shown as having a teardrop-shaped cross-section, while the sheath 304 c has a rounded teardrop-shaped cross-section. Having a sharp teardrop-shaped cross-section allows the rod 302 c to direct its reactionary forces to a single point on the bag 306 c within the sheath 304 c. So, when a bag 306 c is inserted into the device 300 c, the teardrop-shaped rod effectively cinches off the bag at a single point. Having the point of the teardrop facing the opposite direction of the slit 308 c increases the effectiveness of the desired pneumatic segregation by causing the point of the tear-drop to press against the bag 306 c right where the bag 306 c folds over the rod 302 c. While FIG. 3 c shows the sheath 304 c with a rounded teardrop-shaped cross-section, such a configuration is not necessary for the device 300 c to properly function. The sheath 304 c could have a pointed teardrop-shaped cross-section, or it could have an entirely different cross section, such as the circular cross-section of the device shown in FIG. 3 a or even the triangular cross-section of the device show in FIG. 3 b. It is important that the rod 302 c and sheath 304 c interact such that the two components interact to pneumatically segregate one portion of the bag 306 c from another.

Any of the configurations described in FIGS. 3 a-3 c can be implemented in any of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2 or FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 4 shows a disassembled bag sealing device 400, where the sheath 402 extends away from the rod 404 at the bag insertion portion 422. This embodiment of the device has all the advantages of a bulbous portion 418 that is axially aligned with the rod and sheath 402, but by having the bag insertion portion 422 extend away from the rod it is even easier to insert a bag into the device 400. The opening created by widening the slit combined with the bag insertion portion 422 extending away from the rod significantly reduces the change of a bag getting snagged or caught on any portion of the device 400. The remaining components of the bag sealing device 400 are identical to the components of the device described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 shows an assembled bag sealing device 500 identical to the device shown in FIG. 4. The bag sealing device 500 has a sheath 502 and a rod coupled to, and housed within, the sheath 502. The rod coupling portion 516 of the sheath 502 couples the rod and the sheath 502 such that a bag 504 is sealed upon insertion. On the rod coupling portion 516 are plug holes 514 that receive plugs 510 disposed on the plug of the rod (which can be seen only as dotted lines since FIG. 5 is an assembled view). On the end of the plug is the rounded end cap 508 which preferably is adjacent to the end of the rod coupling portion 516 of the sheath 502. The sheath 502 also includes textured portions as described above with respect to the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the bag sealing device 500 shown in FIG. 5. This view showcases the slit 506, which the bag 504 is shown protruding from in FIG. 5. In this particular embodiment, the bulbous portion 518 of the rod 512 is partly within the sheath 502 and partly extending from the sheath 502. In some embodiments, this configuration is preferred, while in other embodiments the bulbous portion 518 can be entirely outside the sheath 502.

As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

Any of the embodiments described above can be made from a variety of materials, including different types of plastic. Preferably, both the rod and sheath are made from plastic, but one and/or the other can also be made from a ceramic or a metal. Natural products such as hemp-based materials can also be used. Ideally, the bag sealing device is a straight, though some variation in curvature is tolerated. Overall, bag sealing devices described in this application should be stiff enough that they are not easily bent or broken by, for example, a child. Proper function of the device, on the other hand, does not rely on excessive stiffness so there is no requirement that any component be made from a stiff material (such as metal).

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bag sealing device comprising: a rod having a body and a longitudinal axis; a sheath disposed about at least a portion of the rod, and having a slit that widens into an opening; and the rod further comprising a bulbous portion extending axially from the body.
 2. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the rod has a circular cross-section.
 3. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the rod has a triangular cross-section.
 4. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the rod has a polygonal cross-section.
 5. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a circular cross-section.
 6. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a triangular cross-section.
 7. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a polygonal cross-section.
 8. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sheath extends radially from the rod at the bag insertion end.
 9. The bag sealing device of claim 1, wherein the rod is longer than the sheath. 